🌋 Holuhraun Viewpoint

🗺️ How to Get There:
Begin at Dreki Hut (Askja base camp) and drive south along Austurleið. After about 15 minutes, just past Dyngjuvatn Lake, take the left turn toward the edge of Jökulsá glacial river. The track leads you to a point next to the Holuhraun lava field, which erupted in 2014–2015. From here, you’ll see the massive, blackened lava plains meeting with braided glacier rivers, an aerial photographer’s dream. A 4x4 vehicle is required, and travel should be done only in good summer conditions (typically mid-July to early September).

📅 Best Time of the Year to Visit:
Mid-summer is the only realistic window due to snow and highland access.
Go on clear, calm days for maximum drone safety and visibility over the massive terrain.

📸 Photography Tips

Best time of day:

• Golden hour brings depth and color to the black lava and icy rivers

• Overcast conditions are also excellent for abstract compositions

• Low sun angles help reveal the textures in lava and sediment flow

Recommended gear:

• Drone is the only way to capture the full scale of this landscape

• Extra batteries, distances are vast and flying time adds up fast

• ND filters for managing harsh light

Composition ideas:

• Top-down shots of lava meets glacier river for extreme contrast

• Frame the lava field edge with winding water channels as leading lines

• Include distant mountains and lakes to create depth

• Minimalist frames using the black lava textures and river veins